WESTERN-UNION/SURVEY-IWD

Over Two Thirds of Women Globally Are Not Very Optimistic about Women Achieving Gender Equality in Five Years

A new global survey has found that women of all generations shared
similar views about the serious challenges preventing their societies
from achieving gender equality. In fact, more than two-thirds of women
around the world are not very optimistic that gender equality can be
achieved in the next five years, and more than 30 percent believe gender
equality is impossible.

Women across all five countries (United States, United Kingdom, China,
India and Brazil) were unified in their view that unlocking education
for girls is key to achieving gender equality, along with accomplishing
societal shifts in how girls and women are viewed. Nearly two thirds (63
percent) see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

The multi-generational research conducted by Research Now and
commissioned by Western Union (NYSE: WU), a global leader in payments
and official International Women’s Day (IWD) sponsor, surveyed 5,000
women - spanning millennials, Gen X, boomers and senior groups - across
the five countries.

Some of the key findings in the research include:

69% of women say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to
advocate for themselves, while 66% believe boys must be taught to
listen, understand and respect more;

More than 67% say society expects women to take on responsibilities
that it does not expect men to take on;

78% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

45% identify social and cultural factors where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

62% say it is important to have educational programs that “teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks”;

60% also feel that it is important to have school social programs that
grow girls’ confidence/self-worth;

Half of women want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives
and accomplishments of women.

Education has the power to be life changing for girls and a key
determinant of their quality of life. Eighty-four percent of women agree
that if we break down the barriers to quality education for all girls,
we can unlock their potential and develop women that will change the
world - immaterial of where they are based across the globe.

President and CEO Western Union Hikmet Ersek
,
said: “These
results are sobering, and show that all of us – as business leaders,
global citizens, and parents – have a long way to go to achieve gender
equality.

“Western Union believes that every girl, everywhere, should have the
chance to pursue her dreams and goals. That’s why we are a proud
participant in International Women’s Day and we’re proud that 90 percent
of the grants provided through the Western Union Foundation over the
past 15 years have gone towards education programs.”

In parallel, the Western Union Foundation is also announcing for IWD the
“WU
Scholars Program
,”* a global scholarship program, dedicated to the
education and empowerment of students around the world, including even
more women.

“Education is one of the most important investments we can make,” Ersek
added. “It turns girls into leaders. It turns global citizens into
economic drivers, who then continue to invest in education. It breaks
down barriers to education and empowers a bolder generation of young
women to achieve their true potential.”

Western Union operates in more than 200 countries and territories around
the world, and more than half of the people who sent money through its
money transfer business in 2016 were women. Of those who received funds
through Western Union, more than 65 percent were women.

The company has also undertaken a multi-year effort – the Chain
of Betters
initiative – to stimulate recognizing good deeds, and
extraordinary efforts by people to help one another. This year, Western
Union has created a short video that inspires communities to champion a
bolder generation of women through education. The video www.wu.com/chainofbetters/iwd/
shines a light on young girls in tribute of International Women’s Day.

Breaking down barriers

These findings have inspired Western Union to expand its commitment to
break down barriers across the globe and launch a $250,000 Global
Scholarship Program, which launches on March 8 in line with IWD 2017.
The program will provide financial support to students around the world,
including young women, giving access to the knowledge and skills needed
to pursue their dreams with confidence - www.WUScholars.org
.

#BeBoldForChange

In honor of IWD, Western Union is inviting people to empower women by
sharing the best, bold advice they’ve ever given or received about
fearlessly pursuing a dream. It might be a piece of sage advice from
your mom, your favorite inspirational quote, or something you say to
your kids. Use hashtags #TheRaceIsOn#BeBoldForChange
to
inspire others and show you believe every girl deserves her place on the
starting line.

80% of American women are not very optimistic that gender equality
can be achieved in the next five years, and 20% believe gender
equality is impossible;

74% say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to advocate for
themselves, while 69% believe boys must be taught to listen,
understand and respect more;

69% say society expects women to take on responsibilities that it does
not expect men to take on;

73% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

38% identify social and cultural factors, where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating, as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

66% say it is important to have educational programs that teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks;

52% want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives and
accomplishments of women;

82% agree that if barriers to quality education for all girls are
broken down, we can unlock their potential and develop women that will
change the world;

71% see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

United Kingdom:

88% of British women are not very optimistic that gender equality
can be achieved in the next five years, and 25% believe gender
equality is impossible;

68% say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to advocate for
themselves, while 65% believe boys must be taught to listen,
understand and respect more;

68% say society expects women to take on responsibilities that it does
not expect men to take on;

72% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

36% identify social and cultural factors, where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating, as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

59% say it is important to have educational programs that teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks;

43% want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives and
accomplishments of women;

77% agree that if barriers to quality education for all girls are
broken down, we can unlock their potential and develop women that will
change the world;

67% see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

Brazil:

61% of Brazilian women are not very optimistic that gender equality
can be achieved in the next five years, and 41% believe gender
equality is impossible;

79% say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to advocate for
themselves, while 77% believe boys must be taught to listen,
understand and respect more;

75% say society expects women to take on responsibilities that it does
not expect men to take on;

87% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

45% identify social and cultural factors, where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating, as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

71% say it is important to have educational programs that teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks;

56% want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives and
accomplishments of women;

87% agree that if barriers to quality education for all girls are
broken down, we can unlock their potential and develop women that will
change the world;

65% see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

China:

82% of Chinese women are not very optimistic that gender equality
can be achieved in the next five years, and 36% believe gender
equality is impossible;

50% say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to advocate for
themselves, while 43% believe boys must be taught to listen,
understand and respect more;

44% say society expects women to take on responsibilities that it does
not expect men to take on;

72% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

44% identify social and cultural factors, where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating, as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

45% say it is important to have educational programs that teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks;

34% want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives and
accomplishments of women;

86% agree that if barriers to quality education for all girls are
broken down, we can unlock their potential and develop women that will
change the world;

56% see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

India:

41% of India women are not very optimistic that gender equality can
be achieved in the next five years, and 39% believe gender equality is
impossible;

79% say girls need to be encouraged to speak up more to advocate for
themselves, while 78% believe boys must be taught to listen,
understand and respect more;

81% say society expects women to take on responsibilities that it does
not expect men to take on;

86% feel that men and boys still believe they are superior to women;

61% identify social and cultural factors, where girls are viewed as
inferior to boys and not worth educating, as a barrier to girls
accessing a quality education;

72% say it is important to have educational programs that teach girls
diverse skills to be effective leaders and take risks;

63% want more lessons and textbooks to teach about the lives and
accomplishments of women;

91% agree that if barriers to quality education for all girls are
broken down, we can unlock their potential and develop women that will
change the world;

54% see gaining equality and inclusivity in the workplace as a
vital first step.

*The WU Scholar Program is administered and operated by the Institute of
International Education, Inc. (IIE) a US private not-for-profit leader
in the international exchange of people and ideas. The Western Union
Foundation is a separate §501(c)(3) recognized United States non-profit
corporation supported by the Western Union Company, its employees,
Agents, and business partners working to support education and disaster
relief efforts as pathways toward a better future.

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment
services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western
Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union
provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient
ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to
purchase money orders. As of December 31, 2016, the Western Union, Vigo
and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined
network of over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories
and over 100,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send
money to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company
completed 268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide,
moving $80 billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million
business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com
.